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"Politicians like to say that government is on the side of the little guy. But with impressive documentation and persuasive examples, Tim Carney shows how government power and regulation are typically used to assist the powerful." -Paul A. Gigot Editorial Page Editor, the Wall Street Journal

"Exposes the dirty little secret of American politics: how big businesses work with statist politicians to diminish the prosperity and freedom of consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. Carney employs top-notch writing ability, passion for liberty, and understanding of economics to demolish the myth that big business is a foe of big government. Everyone who seeks to understand who really benefits from big government should read this book, as should anyone who still believes that the interventionist state benefits the average person." -Congressman Ron Paul U.S. House of Representatives, 14th District of Texas

"Small entrepreneurial businesses are the backbone success of our great economy. They are the biggest job and wealth creators. Is that why big corpocratic behemoth firms collude with big government for a liberal agenda of higher taxes and overregulation that will punish the small risk-takers? Tim Carney's new book describes how anti-business big business can be." -Lawrence Kudlow Host of CNBC's Kudlow & Company

"Tim Carney explodes the myth that big business and big government are natural opponents. All too often, as he points out, they're both engaged in a common enterprise: picking your pocket." -Ramesh Ponnuru Senior Editor, National Review

"A romping tour de force of the love affair between big business and big government from Teddy Roosevelt and the Robber Barons to Enron and the Kyoto Treaty. Indispensable for understanding how government regulation really works."

-Donald Devine Grewcock Professor of Political Science, Bellevue University

"Every CEO in America should read this book today, issue new directives to their bureaucrat-appeasing Washington lobbyist tomorrow, and join in the fight for economic liberalization." -Fred L. Smith, Jr. Founder and President, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Review

1st place book winner of the 2008 Templeton Enterprise Award

"...so good that you might even consider putting it under the tree of the liberals on your Christmas list....they will likely find it fascinating how big business uses government to its advantage. Furthermore, they will likely find The Big Ripoff hard to put down due to Carney's compelling style of writing.... Carney smashes the conventional wisdom that big business is inherently pro-free market and anti-government."—from "Santa Government" by David Hogberg (American Spectator, December 15, 2006)

"This book should be read by every Northern Virginia taxpayer for a chapter aptly titled "You Get Taxed, They Get Rich" in which Carney illustrates this dynamic by examining how former Gov. Mark Warner pushed through the largest tax increase in the commonwealth’s history. Warner, now a presidential hopeful, was helped by the state’s top business leaders, who themselves spent more than $7 million lobbying for higher taxes, instead of the other way around." (The Washington DC Examiner)

"Bashing big business is traditionally a left-wing indulgence, but it need not be. Political reporter Timothy Carney, a small-government conservative, takes up the task with relish in the "The Big Ripoff." Along the way, he produces a spirited and eminently readable indictment of the unsavory alliance between corporate and congressional America." (The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2006)

"...makes a good case that the American people might be better served with less taxpayer subsidization and governmental protection of big business." (The Boston Globe)

More About the Author

Tim Carney is a columnist and a reporter in Washington, D.C., with an expertise in rooting out just who stands to profit from politicians's latest "reform" proposals. Tim's first book, The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money, won the Templeton Enterprise Award in 2008 from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and the Lysander Spooner Award for the "best book on liberty" in 2006.

Trained under veteran columnist Robert Novak, Tim is currently the lobbying editor and a columnist at the Washington Examiner. Tim, one of four boys, was born in Greenwich Village and grew up in Pelham, New York.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

An important book, particularly before election time. Carney uncovers the millions (maybe billions) of dollars that go directly to big business, compliments of our elected officials (of both flavors), and how big business lobbies government to protect its interests at the expense of smaller business and individuals. It's one thing for government to tax people to provide for the needy, but I don't see how Boeing can ever be described as "needy." Maybe government gets too much money from taxpayers, and politicians need a reminder that they are there to serve and protect -- individuals. Not to take our money to give to the likes of Boeing and ADM and other big companies! You will be shocked, as we all should be. Hopefully this book will inspire some action on the part of voters.

For those who always thought business was a supporter of free-market policies - get ready to have your eyes opened. Mr. Carney does a great job of connecting the dots between polices that seem, on the surface anti-business, but instead help one or two major institutions (usually ones that have a long standing relationship with those in power). After reading this book it makes you want to standup - go over to a window and yell "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!"

Many times I complain when I see a large portion of my paycheck stripped of income. Occasionally I declare in a frustrated tone, "where is my money going?". As shown in Timothy P. Carney's book The Big Rip off, our money lands in the pockets of big business from our government through our tax dollars.

Before reading The Big Ripoff, I discovered the largest supporter of the Kyoto Protocol was Enron. I began wondering if this was good for our environment, or was it just making a select few rich. But not having the time to research the subject I let my curiosity simmer.

Carney has taken time to research the age old question "what does the government do with my tax dollars?". Carney will open your eyes to many corporate welfare programs and abuses of eminent domain by politicians for the benefit of companies. Furthermore, you will learn that big companies are the most adamant supporters of more government regulation because it restricts smaller less powerful companies from entering their field.

I suggest everyone should read this before they vote in the next election. You will learn that the piles of cash the government gives to big corporations is not determined by the political party, but by the political system itself.

If you wish to discover how and why your hard earned tax dollars are sent to these large companies, you need to read this book. You will be shocked in what you learn. You will also be delighted to find a bibliography helping you discover resources for your own research.

- Big business wants free markets- Government protects us from big business- Government regulations are intended to restrict big business- Big business is more aligned with the political right than the political left

This book meticulously chronicles the mechanism by which big business partners with government in order to:

- subsidize its operations- create its own government customers, both foreign and domestic- eliminate the free market, and replace it with a corrupt one- tilt the playing field so that small business has no chance- control who wins elections

By the end, you realize that the government's primary function is to redistribute wealth from the middle class to the corporate class. You also realize we don't actually live in a free market. In a free market, the businesses that succeed are the ones who customers decide are providing value. In our system, the businesses that succeed are the ones who effectively suck money from taxpayers via the government, regardless of what they provide to the health of society.

This book is important because its message is unique. It is not the same tired old republican theories about trickle down economics or left-wing theories about the evils of the market. Thank you, Tim Carney, for advancing the debate past the usual left/right myths.

I was drawn to this book becauase I saw Robert Novak's Foreword. I was blown away how honest and fair Carney was in The Big Ripoff. One thing is apparent after reading this book. People for big government will not like this book because he calls for an end to government regulation of businesses. Carney's thought process can be illustrated like this: less gov't= better business practices. I loved his points that show a blatent intent to profit by businesses by supporting government regulations or protocols. For instance, Enron supporting the Kyoto protocol because it would give them a chance for more business. Then business lobbyists working with Congress. Dare I say Jack Abramahoff.

Carney also attacks the myth that Republicans are the party of the rich. Carney accomplishes this by facts and scenarios outlining contributions. Carney also shows that both parties deal with Big Business. The only reason Republicans have been in the news more goes back to who is in power.

The rest of the book shows some interesting ties between certain companies and big business. If you want a book that shows the truth and also makes you feel helpless then get the Big Ripoff. His stories of the companies are enough merit to purchase this one.